Tevita Fine allegedly offered cash to a child on Sydney train in exchange for sex

A father is accused of sexually touching a child and stalking her through a Sydney train trying to persuade her to have sexual intercourse with him. Here’s the latest from court.

A Sydney southwest man has been accused of sexually touching a child during an incident on a train July 2024. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

A father visiting Sydney’s southwest allegedly offered a child $50 in exchange for sex and stalked her through a train carriage after she refused, a court heard.

Tevita Fine, 25, appeared via video link at Campbelltown Local Court from custody assisted by a Tongan interpreter and was refused bail on Friday.

The court heard Fine approached a 12-year-old girl sitting by herself in the train carriage – on a trip between Liverpool and Town Hall on July 13 – and touched her knee before offering her cash to have sex with him.

The young girl allegedly told Fine her age and rejected his sexual advances, eventually having to “seek refuge” from him by moving carriages, a court heard.

The accused allegedly followed the 12-year-old girl and winked at her while pursuing her through the train.

The man’s matter was mentioned at Campbelltown court. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The court heard Fine turned himself in to police after seeing images matching his description distributed by transport police investigating the alleged incident.

Fine was charged at Campbelltown police station on Thursday with procuring a child under 14 years for unlawful sexual activity, intentionally sexually touching a child between 10 and 16 years, assault and intimidation. He has not entered any pleas.

Police prosecutor Robert Trethewey told the court Fine allegedly admitted to being sexually attracted to the complainant during interviews with police “despite clearly knowing her age”.

Mr Trethewey argued the incident was a targeted attempt by the accused to act upon his sexual interest in children, and he therefore posed an “unacceptable risk to the children in our community”.

Legal aid solicitor Nesha Chandrapal told the court Fine had strong community ties and was visiting family at Macquarie Fields.

Ms Chandrapal argued Fine’s lack of criminal history combined with strict bail conditions including not being in the company of a child without an adult present, and surrendering his passport to police, would mitigate any risks he posed if released.

Magistrate Sharon Holdsworth said Fine posed an “unacceptable risk to young girls” and did not feel assured he would abide by conditions set by the court, and refused his bail.

Tevita Fine will return to Liverpool Local Court in September.